Humans evolved to become endurance runners to be able to hunt animals for food. According to a paper in Sports Medicine by Harvard evolutionary biologist Daniel E. Lieberman and University of Utah biologist Dennis M. Bramble, “several characteristics unique to humans suggested endurance running played an important role in our evolution.”

The New York Times article “The Human Body Is Built for Distance” says the book “Born to Run” by Christopher McDougall “has reframed the debate about the wisdom of distance running.”

ELITE Kenyan runners lead the pack of the Smart Subic International Marathon 2009. The Kenyan runners look built for the sport with their thin frame and long, lean legs. Scientific studies have shown that humans evolved to become endurance runners. Click on photo to enlarge (PHOTO BY MARLEN LIMPAG)

In the book, Mc Dougall studies Tarahumara Indians, a tribe in Mexico known for running long distances wearing only thin-soled sandals.

Tara Parker Pope writes in her article:

“Mr. McDougall makes the case that running isn’t inherently risky. Instead, he argues that the commercialization of urban marathons encourages overzealous training, while the promotion of high-tech shoes has led to poor running form and a rash of injuries.”

The article said many runners get injured because most people only start running in adulthood. Poor form also causes and exacerbates injuries.

“What’s the solution? Slower, easier training over a long period would most likely help; so would brief walk breaks, which mimic the behavior of the persistence hunter. And running on a variety of surfaces and in simpler shoes with less cushioning can restore natural running form.”

While writing the book, McDougall, who has suffered running injuries, corrected his form and stopped using thickly cushioned shoes. He has been running without injury for three years.